It may not have counted for anything in the standings, but the home debut for the 2026-27 North Texas Mean Green men's basketball team ended in brutal fashion.
In front of a frustrated home crowd, UNT fell to the Northwestern State Demons 62-60 in an exhibition after a buzzer-beating putback gave the visitors the victory.
The result won't affect UNT's record, but the performance raised questions about the team's offensive execution and defensive consistency.
With the regular season approaching, here are four takeaways from the Mean Green's loss.
1. Newcomers provide some positives
The Mean Green returned just four players from last season's roster, making this an opportunity for fans to get their first extended look at the new additions.
Junior guard Cash Chavis, who transferred from UT Arlington, led the new guys with 13 points. He shot 4-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds in 26 minutes.
Sophomore center Ousmane Ndour, who joined UNT from Spanish club CB Benicarló, finished with eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night. Freshman guard TJ Crumble also made the most of his opportunities, scoring nine points on 3-for-4 shooting in 17 minutes.
The additions combined for 35 of UNT's 60 points, accounting for more than half of the team's offensive production.
With so much roster turnover, the Mean Green will need these new players to develop into reliable contributors as the season progresses.
2. Perimeter defense remains a concern
Defense has been a defining characteristic of North Texas basketball, dating back to the McCasland era.
That identity wasn't consistently evident against Northwestern State.
The Demons shot 40.4% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range. Senior guard Kai Simpson led all scorers with 23 points on 7-for-15 shooting.
The final possession was another reminder of the importance of finishing defensive stops, with Kordrick Turner securing an offensive rebound and Simpson eventually scoring the game-winning basket at the buzzer.
UNT actually won the rebounding battle 39-34 and forced 12 turnovers, so the defensive performance wasn't entirely negative.
Against a Northwestern State team picked eighth in the Southland Conference preseason poll, the result raises questions about how UNT will handle stronger opponents on its schedule, like McNeese, Santa Clara, Wichita State and Memphis.
3. UNT needs a more consistent offensive identity
Against Northwestern State, UNT struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm. The Mean Green shot just 37.7% from the field and 26.3% from 3-point range.
UNT also went through extended scoring droughts, including a stretch of more than seven minutes without a point in the second half. Those empty possessions allowed Northwestern State to remain in control and put pressure on the Mean Green.
Junior guard Je'Shawn Stevenson, the American Conference preseason player of the year, struggled with his shooting early. He finished 4-for-14 from the field and 2-for-8 from 3-point range.
Despite those struggles, Stevenson led UNT with 16 points and five assists, helping keep the Mean Green within striking distance. His ability to contribute even on an inefficient shooting night was important, but it also highlighted the need for more consistent production from the rest of the roster.
UNT cannot expect Stevenson to rescue the offense every night. The Mean Green need better ball movement, more purposeful off-ball movement and additional players capable of creating scoring opportunities.
The team has time to develop that chemistry. However, the lack of offensive consistency against Northwestern State is something that needs to be addressed before games begin to count.
4. An exhibition loss isn't the end of the world
At the end of the day, this game won't count against UNT's regular-season record.
The Mean Green nearly defeated Colorado in their other exhibition, demonstrating that the team has the potential to compete against quality opponents.
That doesn't mean the loss should be dismissed.
UNT showed flashes of promise through its newcomers, rebounding and ability to force turnovers. At the same time, the team struggled with shooting efficiency, offensive consistency and the ability to get a final defensive stop.
Those are correctable issues, but the coaching staff needs to address them before the regular season begins. This won't appear in the standings, but the lessons from it should carry into the regular season.
The Mean Green have an opportunity to use this performance as a wake-up call and establish the identity they'll need to compete throughout the year.
Men’s basketball begins the season next Monday against Southwest Christian at the Super Pit.
